Page 70 - Overcoming Addiction

who had known nothing but slavery all of their lives. To have their own land as a
possession, and to serve God in freedom while enjoying many blessings, was more
than any of them could have anticipated while living in bondage to Egypt.
The spies also saw large numbers of people dwelling in the land. There were
strongholds and walled cities which would have to be conquered. And there were
giants in the land. It is easy to judge the people of Israel as lacking courage, but we
must remember they serve as “types of us.” Most Christians do no better when
Christ calls them to go forth and take possession of the land of their flesh.
We too have giants in the land. Our bodies are inhabited by many enemies,
and there are strongholds and walled cities that must be conquered. What are the
enemies you have identified in the land of your flesh? As this book is addressed to
those struggling with addiction, I would suspect that many have identified
alcoholism, drug addiction and pornography as giants they must fight. When you
look at these giants, how do you see yourself in comparison?
Yahweh desires to completely change your life. He desires to take a land that
is polluted by sin, and filled with desires and passions that are at enmity with
Him, and establish peace and righteousness. He wants to take your spiritually
barren life and transform it into a fruitful garden. He has given His children His
Spirit that they might find the fruit of the Spirit flourishing within them.

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

This fruit is absent from our lives when we come to Christ. If we have been
ruled by sin and addictive desires, we cannot say that we have goodness, or self-
control. If we have walked in selfishness, we have not manifested love, for the
Scriptures state “love does not seek its own.” If we have been depressed or anxious
even to the point of taking prescription drugs to seek to counteract these enemies
in the land, then we have not had peace. If we have wanted our fleshly desires
satisfied immediately, even to the point that some would resort to theft, then we
have manifested neither patience nor kindness. None of the fruit of the Spirit are
present in our lives when our bodies are ruled by these enemies. Therefore the
enemies must all be conquered.
Can you envision your life becoming a land of abundant fruitfulness that is
pleasing to God? Can you envision your entire being filled with the presence of
Christ and experiencing love, joy, peace and all the other fruit of the Spirit? Can
you imagine a life where you are no longer looking over your shoulder waiting for
judgment to catch up with you, but instead your only expectation is the Father’s
praise as He looks at your life? This is Yahweh’s desire for you, and He has
promised to make it a reality if you will trust Him and obey.
As great and precious as the promises are, many fall short of possessing
them due to the warfare that is required. They are daunted by the enemies in the
land. They manifest either a lack of desire for the things God has promised, or a
lack of confidence in Yahweh’s power and good intentions. Listen to the report of
the men who spied out the land of Canaan.